As the expansion is underway at Pala Casino Spa & Resort, guests may notice a change in dining with the revamp of Cave while Luis Rey’s and Poolside Cafe & Bar are closed for a few months. The Promenade Deli is closed for good and the space will be incorporated into Luis Rey’s.

Cave — which opened in 2015 — not only has the new name, Bar Meets Grill, it also has an updated menu, extended hours and a slightly new look as of Jan. 2.

“We wanted to reinvent the restaurant to give everybody an option,” Roy Hillis, Pala Casino Spa & Resort’s vice president of food and beverage said. “Since the other eateries are temporarily closed, we wanted to make sure we have a place for guests to continue to enjoy their favorites.”

The Poolside Cafe & Bar is set to open in mid-May when the new pool complex debuts; Luis Rey’s is scheduled to re-launch in late June.

Cave, which featured Mediterranean fare and was only open for dinner, is now open for lunch at 11 a.m. with menu items featured from the eateries that are not open. Minor interior changes offer a more casual vibe to the bright and airy space.

Flatware rolled in black linen napkins and turquoise and orange table runners take the place of stemware and place settings on the tables from the Cave days, but everything else — from the furniture and a section of silver strings of balls separating the bar from the dining room — remain the same.

Luis Rey’s popular Kobe burger, street tacos and fish and chips are available while the foot-long hot dog, roasted turkey, avocado club and the BLT from The Promenade Deli are on the menu.

There are also seven salads to choose from.

And a throwback spaghetti and giant meatball from Mama Rosa’s — the eatery that Cave replaced — have made a comeback due to popular demand.

Staples from Cave including lobster ravioli, chicken piccata and seared rib-eye are still offered.

“The chef will also make anything no longer on the menu if the ingredients are available,” Hillis said. “And if the the ingredients aren’t available we can order them.”

The Wine Cave hasn’t changed and oenophiles can still choose from 50 wines by the glass at Bar Meets Grill which includes three private label selections that are available for $5 per glass during happy hour (3-7 p.m. daily in the lounge section).

“The feedback has been great,” Hillis said. “We are only a couple of weeks in and need to give it life and let it breath a little bit.”

Stephanie Schulte has covered everything from travel, crime, food and entertainment since 2006. Her first assignment was writing a feature story on Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini for Amy Blanc Elementary School in Northern California and she never looked back. Schulte enjoys playing piano (not very good), hiking, hanging with her family and friends and watching Three's Company re-runs.